Why did 25 postal trucks, fire trucks parade past home of Clay teen?

Matthew Watkins, center, smiles with his U.S. Postal Service uniform Tuesday morning after a parade of postal delivery trucks and fire trucks passed by his Clay home.

(Provided)

CLAY, N.Y. -- It's no secret that Matthew Watkins wants to be a mail carrier.

The 17-year-old boy who lives in Clay has long loved to greet his local carrier and count the mail trucks parked outside the U.S. Postal Service's Bayberry post office, said his mother, Jennifer Watkins. When Matthew was diagnosed with cancer last May, postal uniforms given to him by retired carriers brought Matthew comfort -- accompanying him to a Rochester hospital during his nearly eight-month stay.

A few weeks after Matthew returned home from the hospital, the Bayberry post office decided to welcome home their top supporter.

A procession of 25 postal trucks escorted by Moyers Corners Fire Department trucks paraded from the Bayberry Plaza on 7608 Oswego Road to Matthew's Portobello Way home, said Maureen Marion, a Postal Service spokeswoman. The event was launched by Annie Agrasto, a nurse and friend of Matthew's family.

U.S. Postal Service trucks from the Bayberry post office head to Matthew Watkins' Clay home Tuesday morning. Mail carriers and firefighters held a parade to support Matthew, an aspiring mail carrier who is battling cancer.

Decked out in his Postal Service hat and shirt, Matthew smiled as he watched the parade pass by.

"It's definitely a welcome home present," Matthew's mother said.

Matthew, a Liverpool High School student, was hospitalized May 20, 2015 after he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, Watkins said. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 7 and is working on rebuilding his strength.

Matthew was "overwhelmed" by the number of vehicles in the parade, Watkins said. He is already eager to relive the event through photos and videos.

Marion said Bayberry's carriers were eager to participate in the parade.

"We wanted to give him a bump up," Marion said. "Actually, he gives us more of a bump up than we gave him."